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Right now other people are working hard on Crown of Renewal‘s production status–the copy editor, for one–but there’s no news for me to share until after I get the copy edits and return them.
I am trying to catch up on everything that went astray earlier this year (HA! Fat chance!) and prepare for the next trip, next week. It feels like being stuck windless with sagging sails in the Sargasso Sea, because it seems like no matter how many things I accomplish on a given day, more appear…and I’m not making progress on a book, which is one of the few things that gives me a sense of progress. Most of the things I’m doing will need doing again and again and again. Fill out this form, mail it in. Fill out another form, mail it in. Write this check, mail it in. Write another check, mail it in. Pay this or that or the other bill online. Wash the dishes, do the laundry, swab out the toilet. Call for an appointment. Answer this phone message. There’s always more of this kind of thing to do. Dishes, stoves, floors, and socks always get dirty again. Bills come every month. Some people seem to revel in keeping up, whisking through stuff quickly and accurately. I’m not one of those people.
Besides, I have other real (e.g. kind of work that, when done, is done) work to do. I have speeches to write, two of them. I have a story to write for the second anthology, one of them. I have the new whatever-it-is book to figure out. So far, with all the other stuff pressing in on me, nothing is moving much in the potential-book area. I’m hoping the coming train rides will shake something loose, but I’m not having luck writing with the iPad yet. A yellow tablet will accompany me.
(Aside: As I’ve explained more than once–ahem–it will NOT be a Serrano-Suiza book. That group of books was straining its original foundation when I finished it–and yes, it is finished. I do not have any of the reference material I had when I wrote it–I considered the series finished and done, and tossed it. It would take more time than I have to dig back through the books and And it belongs to my former publisher. Considerate and helpful as Baen Books have been about coordinating with Del Rey to have the earlier Paksworld books they published available alongside the new group from Del Rey, I cannot expect them to do the same for all my stuff. Not fair to them. Yes, I know a lot of people really liked those books. Yes, I like a lot of the characters. Yes, there are more potential stories in that universe. That’s the sign of a good fictional universe, IMO. The main character arcs of the original main cast–the three-generations thing (the elders, the middle-aged, the young)–is complete. Lives go on past the end of a story-arc. So no, I’m not writing them as books; I might dip into them for short fiction. Might.)
Meanwhile, there’s a stack on the desk to be dealt with today, and a pile of stuff in the computer, business communications, that also needs to be dealt with today. I’ve already made a trip to City Hall this morning; the trip to the bank and the post office will come shortly. (Checking time–yes, the mail should be in the boxes in the post office by now. I need to get back on the bike. And remember to take my purse this time, because I should get to the bank…no, wait, I need to write a check to put in the mail when I pick up the mail. And at the bank I’ll need A, B, C with me. And don’t forget to carry water along. Etc.)
Hoping that now the biopsy report’s come back clear, the new book will germinate and stick up some leaves so I can identify it and tell Agent to tell Editor we have a live one again.
Comment by GinnyW — September 12, 2013 @ 11:39 am
Sigh for the Familias Universe, I really liked Cecilia. Although it is true that the story arc as originally set out is complete.
Perhaps a new science-fiction universe is called for with a different slant. Yellow pads (or the equivalent) worked for Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway,why not? If all else fails you can draw on them. Maps. Geometric whatevers. Oodles of Doodles. The computer is harder to relate to that way. Just remember that you need pens and pencils to go with them.
The endless tasks do not lend themselves to good stories, so I am glad you have some less than routine things coming up. They do lend themselves to restoring a sense of stability in the midst of upheaval, so perhaps think of them as an anchor in the midst of the storm.
Good luck with getting yourself and all the necessary accompaniments to the bank, etc.
Comment by Daniel Glover — September 12, 2013 @ 2:45 pm
I have just started in on Vatta, I’m liking that too–read first book in two sittings.
I did get to wondering I was beginning to see a trend between the Paks and the Familias great story arcs–relating to the priorities of the elder races/long lived and those of shorter life spans and some of the issues in remembering that someone really might not know about something “everyone” just knows about with longer lives and memories.
This seems a common thread in both. So taking a jaunt in another direction may put more wind in the Paksworld sails later.
In looking over the racks at the local bookseller I understand why the publisher would encourage you to write more along SF–what you write is closer to more of the genre there at the moment than where the bulk of the fantasy title are currently going (which I’m not buying because I don’t care for them).
Hopefully your daily grind stuff will cause the Plot Daemon to finally say, “Enough of this!” and come to life in a flood with a great new plot line.
Comment by ellen — September 13, 2013 @ 2:33 am
Glad to hear the biopsies were clear. Meanwhile, it sounds like you need some time out and some nice dark chocolate….
Comment by Annabel — September 13, 2013 @ 5:45 am
I wonder whether the difficulties you are having in shaking something loose are due to the fact that a whole new world is striving to be born – one you haven’t met before? Even if it’s just a stand-alone novel.
Hope whatever it is germinates very soon – I expect it will.
Comment by Kerry aka Trouble — September 13, 2013 @ 5:59 am
Ah, well – Cecilia was one of my favorite characters, too, but if it’s done, it’s done.
Would Todd let you write in the Sassinak world or is that still tied up in his mom’s estate? That was another of my well-read series.
On another note, I forgot to mention it when I saw you, but my first foray into beef stock-making after I found that butcher came out quite well – and sherbet containers make excellent sized freezer storage for it. There was about a pint left when I got done filling the sherbet containers and I thought about bringing to to you in SA, but realized we would have no way to keep it from spoiling.
Comment by elizabeth — September 13, 2013 @ 11:37 am
Kerry: Very glad the stock turned out well. And I’m really glad you didn’t try to bring the odd pint. Transporting stock unfrozen is risky. The stuff makes such good bacterial growth medium.
Comment by pjm — September 13, 2013 @ 9:33 pm
I am glad of the clear biopsy report – always a relief.
Peter
Comment by Naomi — September 14, 2013 @ 3:07 am
I agree with other posters, good news that the biopsies were clear – onward and upward!
Comment by sully — September 15, 2013 @ 4:22 pm
Well, whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading it.
So many sci-fi books feature long lives, but I’ve only seen your Familias books explore how that could change a society. Books that don’t touch on that seem unfinished or immature to me now.
I also enjoyed your Sassinak books-they were what introduced my family to you, in fact. We started picking up your books because we enjoyed Sassinak.
Comment by GinnyW — September 15, 2013 @ 6:30 pm
Daniel,
I think Elizabeth posted something (in one of the speculation spaces) about the long lives/short lives thread that runs in the Familias space and in Paksworld.
I think when the plot daemon, life-in-general, and your health let up on you, a story will start to emerge and the characters will tell you what universe they are in. And whether they know or should know any of the characters we have already seen. Writing Crown of Renewal – with so much of the story already told or hinted at or hanging off a cliff – would be very confining in some ways. If I were you, I would not want to pick up in a known universe right away. I would want to explore something different.
You are free to be for a while. Enjoy it, take bicycle or a horse and go on a picnic. Pray for some of the water in eastern Colorado to make it to western Texas.
Comment by Sharidann — September 16, 2013 @ 5:06 am
Glad to read about the biopsy coming clean. 🙂
Comment by Annabel — September 16, 2013 @ 11:37 am
I’ve just been reading such books as I have of the Familias world – alas, only the last four – and giggled madly when Brun found knitting boring. Obviously this was written before our distinguished author took up the hobby again! (Mind you, to be fair, Brun does enjoy seeing how the finished product is made, if she doesn’t enjoy making it herself).
Comment by Richard — September 17, 2013 @ 12:35 am
Arvid has just been mentioned in Spoiler Space ( http://www.paksworld.com/blog/?p=1859#comments ) but I think this response is safe enough here.
A thief from Vérella did gad.
No barmaid could capture the lad.
From Paks he can’t run,
Gird finds him a son:
Grow up, go to grange, be a dad!
Arvid when we first met him had every juvenile delinquent’s dream lifestyle – I like what he is learning about people and about himself.
Comment by David — September 17, 2013 @ 12:25 pm
Preorder up for Crown of Renewal on Amazon!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Crown-Renewal-Elizabeth-Moon/dp/0345533097/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1
Comment by Kathleen — September 18, 2013 @ 6:15 am
Ohhh. That looks like Dorrin on the cover wearing the crown!
Comment by elizabeth — September 18, 2013 @ 7:12 am
That would be correct.
The cover is much better than its precursor. I rarely fuss about covers, but the first one was far too romance-like. I’m grateful they were willing and able to make the changes.
Comment by Naomi — September 18, 2013 @ 7:33 am
No cover shown for Crown of Renewal on the UK Amazon site, maybe they’re going for a differnt cover. Spoilerish stuff on both of the descriptions…
Comment by Sharidann — September 18, 2013 @ 8:30 am
Same cover on amazon.de as on amazon.com
I pre-ordered on September the 4th and the book is supposed to come out the 27th of may 2014.
Is it Kieri in the background ?
Comment by elizabeth — September 18, 2013 @ 2:44 pm
Orbit UK editions have always had different covers–it’s a completely different publishing house under a different Publishing Overlord. It also got a bit of remake, though not as much at the US cover. The goal is to signal that this is epic fantasy, not romance.
Comment by Richard — September 19, 2013 @ 2:50 am
I wonder whether 27th May is just a nominal date because Amazon’s system doesn’t allow them to put just sometime-in-May? (Odd that they should choose a Tuesday if so)
Sharidann, Kieri surely, so in restoring his beard the new cover makes up for both the first two. I like it.
So who is the man next to Paks on the US cover for Limits (those of you who have it)? I cannot decide from the website images.
Comment by Richard — September 20, 2013 @ 3:51 am
Oops, I think I misunderstood #16. I took the far too romance-like “first cover” to mean Oath of Fealty‘s US one but on more careful reading Elizabeth is referring to something we’ll never see: a rejected earlier offering for Crown‘s.
Comment by GinnyW — September 20, 2013 @ 9:43 am
Richard, I am not sure who the man behind/next to Paks is supposed to be on the cover of Limits. The hair is too dark for Kieri (as I picture him anyway). Mentally, I have him pegged as Arcolin. There is also a small figure with a cloak and staff walking away from a citadel (bottom right corner) that I think is Arvid.
I like the cover for Crown, although I wish Dorrin wasn’t frowning. The man in the background looks like Kieri, although he definitely looks younger than he did on the cover of Kings of the North, and his hair has grown alot.
The spoilerish descriptions are more tantalizing hints than anything else, perhaps we need a speculation space for our wild imaginings. It is a long time until May.
Comment by Daniel Glover — September 20, 2013 @ 2:10 pm
Ginny,
Some of us have been using the most recent link in the “Spoiler Space” link to do just that.
Comment by Richard — September 21, 2013 @ 1:47 am
Ah, but by the time we get to Crown Kieri is supposed to be looking more like his half-elven age than his human one.
Comment by GinnyW — September 24, 2013 @ 6:06 pm
Richard: Yes, there have been several comments that he looks younger. My favorite aspect of the cover, though, is that it is concrete evidence of “forthcoming”. Although it is fun to contemplate the appearances of the characters.
Daniel: Even I, but that thread is getting very long, and I am making connections (too slowly) with the rereading of Liars Oath and Surrender None as well.
Comment by Richard — September 25, 2013 @ 12:58 am
Ginny, the picture itself is the biggest spoiler – one detail in particular. Though at this stage we are meant to appreciate where the story may be going, so not so much spoiler as confirmation that expectations will be met.
Comment by GinnyW — September 27, 2013 @ 11:24 am
Richard: More confirmation than spoiler in my humble opinion.
Comment by Richard — September 28, 2013 @ 4:24 am
I’ve been browsing around Amazon looking at artwork. The last three audio readings by Brilliance (though not OoF) have adapted the (US) book cover pictures using the extra width a CD cover makes available. For LoP the citadel is further to the right, where its detail shows up so much better.
There are a lot of near-duplicate entries (audio CD by post vs. audio download, for example) not all of them with a “show larger image” option (which may differ between Amazon’s US and UK sites; being in the UK I tried the latter first), and not all fully cross-referenced for searching. This is the expanded picture (my first attempt at capturing a URL on my new software levels; it looks like I can strip off some back-end reference gubbins) http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B00DC6OKDC